April 28: Take Your Child to Work Day

[Valerie Vogel <vvogel () EDUCAUSE EDU>]

The following information was shared in the April 2016 Stop.Think.Connect. update. Please consider sharing this with 
others on your campus or take this opportunity to bring your child to work on April 28 and help them learn more about 
careers in the information security field.

Thank you,
Valerie


Take Your Child to Work Day: Cybersecurity
http://daughtersandsonstowork.org/

This month, many organizations across the country will host “Take Your Child to Work” days to expose their employees’ 
children to future career opportunities. But there’s one career in particular that you may not have considered as an 
option for your child. This career has plenty of earning potential, is in high-demand, and offers exciting job 
opportunities in nearly every other field out there. What is this exciting career? Cybersecurity.

Jobs in cybersecurity are known to offer higher-than-average salaries over many other jobs, and our country needs more 
people to fill those jobs – to protect our government, our companies, and our citizens.

Because the demand – and the stakes – are so high, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers several tools to 
encourage interest and help prepare students for jobs in cybersecurity.

  *   Cyber-related curriculum for K-12th grade: Teachers have free access to curriculum that incorporates cyber-based 
concepts into basic subjects such as math, science, and even humanities. Teachers and after-school clubs can download 
this curriculum for FREE. Encourage your school to try these resources to start exposing your kids to cyber concepts 
early! Lesson plans and resources can be downloaded at http://nicerc.org/curricula/.
  *   Hands-on learning: Cyber competitions offer teens and pre-teens the chance to learn about cybersecurity by 
applying techniques in a controlled environment. You can encourage your teen or pre-teen to try out cyber skills at 
various competitions around the country, such as CyberPatriot: uscyberpatriot.org<http://uscyberpatriot.org>.
  *   Top cyber-degree programs, scholarships, and a path to employment: DHS also offers information on obtaining a 
cyber-related degree for kids looking to go to college.

  1.  Cybercorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS): DHS offers funding for school in return for government service through 
the SFS program. Your child could receive funding for school as well as a path to employment in federal, or state and 
local government upon graduation. For more information, visit https://www.sfs.opm.gov/.
  2.  Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE): DHS and the National Security Agency (NSA), a Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign 
partner, designate cyber-related degree programs across the nation. This designation allows students to choose degree 
programs with confidence within a college or university that is recognized by major employers. For a list of almost 
schools across the country, visit https://www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/institutions.shtml.

Even if your child doesn’t pursue a career in cybersecurity, almost all careers and schools now utilize technology in 
some way. In this way, everyone has a responsibility towards online safety. Through the Stop.Think.Connect. national 
cybersecurity awareness campaign, DHS offers general resources to teach kids – and parents – about how to stay safe 
online every day. Access the Stop.Think.Connect. Toolkit at 
www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect<http://www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect> to learn more.


Valerie Vogel Program Manager

EDUCAUSE
Uncommon Thinking for the Common Good
direct: 202.331.5374 | main: 202.872.4200 | educause.edu<http://www.educause.edu/>